Bringing up cleansing properties in a recipe?

[Lenimae]

Hello everyone! I really hope that I'm in the right place to ask this particular question!

I'm very new to cp soaping and still in the process of researching and experimenting. I ran a recipe through SoapCalc and it is suggested that your cleansing properties should range between 12-22. Mine worked out to an 11. Is this a concern? Please do bare with me, like I said I'm a newbie and really don't mean to sound so dense on the subject, lol!! If this is a concern, can anyone tell me what I should be changing or adding into this recipe to make it better?

Coconut Oil - 166g
Palm Oil - 276g
Olive Oil - 330g
Castor Oil - 132g
Jojoba Oil - 44g
Shea Butter - 44g

Calculated Water - 376.96g & Lye - 132.743g

I really don't know if I'm even using SoapCalc properly, lol!!! There is SO much to learn about this totally awesome craft! I'm enjoying every minute of it and would appreciate any input and advice as I've got plans to take it on as a full time job rather than just a simple hobby...

Thanks so much!

 

[Hazel]

It's smart to ask questions when you're not sure of something. There's a learning curve when you start anything new. I was very confused when I first started learning how to make CP.

A cleansing value of 11 isn't a problem. A cleansing value for 100% olive oil is zero and castile soap will still get you clean. It will just be a mild soap. Sometimes you have to take soapcalc's values with a grain of salt. The values don't always reflect what a finished batch will be like.

Your recipe seems fine to me. It will be a little soft but that's because it's going to be more conditioning. I have a recipe with almost the same values. I can't say there is anything to change to make it better since what you like in soap will be different from what I like. (Although if you ask me, I can tell you how I would change it if I was making the recipe. :wink: )

Although, I'm curious about why you want to use jojoba in your recipe. I know some people do but it's so expensive to add into a product that you're going to rinse off. This is just my opinion but I'd save the jojoba to use in a lotion.

 

[Lenimae]

Thanks so SO much for your reply Hazel!

The reason for the jojoba was simply for experimentation purposes. Even though I've done weeks and weeks of research, reading, note taking, etc... I have yet to learn all the different properties/cost of all the different oils! Thank you so much for the tip on jojoba! I've added it into my notes and will definitely be saving it for future lotions!!

I'm really not quite sure of what kind of a soap I actually "prefer" myself. I suppose I like more of a variety as my skin goes through many different stages throughout an entire year. As far as making soap, I have plans on making every possible soap out there...among other amazing bath and body products!!

I would absolutely LOVE to hear how you would manipulate this particular recipe and why!!! I am so excited to talk to people who have experience behind their belt and actually know what they're talking about, lol!!

 

[Hazel]

Have you looked at Summer Bee Meadow's oil properties page? It's a great reference if you're trying to decide between oils.

http://summerbeemeadow.com/content/prop ... aking-oils

You’re welcome! I’m happy to help when I can. I’m not an expert but I can tell you what I’ve learned from experimenting. This is all just my personal opinion which is why it’s so important to experiment. What works for me won’t necessarily be liked by someone else.

I have dry, sensitive skin so I found out I prefer a lower percentage of coconut oil in my batches. I use 20%-25% unless I’m adding cream or buttermilk. Then I’ll use a higher percentage of 27%-30% since the cream/buttermilk appears to make the soap milder. However if I’m making a salt bar, I use 85% coconut oil with 15% of another oil and a superfat of 18%-20%. I use the lower percentage if I add milk in the batch. In my regular bars, I use a superfat of 6%-8% depending on what liquid I’m using for the batch.

I experimented with a lot of different oils when I first started and found that the exotic oils really are unnecessary for creating a nice soap plus they’re expensive. I now save those for lotions and creams. I prefer to use coconut, palm (which is a controversial topic which I won’t cover here), olive and castor as my base oils. I use sunflower (regular & high oleic), avocado, apricot kernel, hazelnut, rice bran and safflower as my conditioning or substitute oils. I have used palm kernel flakes as a substitute for coconut oil. I also love babassu oil even though it’s about twice the price of coconut oil. But I only use it for facial soap so I don’t go through it as quickly. What conditioning oils I choose to use just depends on the time of year. I use avocado more for cold weather soap and hazelnut for warmer weather. I use a combination of rice bran and safflower to replace olive in recipes plus add hazelnut for my nephew’s soap because he has oilier skin and has problems with acne.

Maybe changing the conditioning oils in the recipes is really unnecessary. I don’t know…but I like how the soaps turned out so I keep using these oils. I also use the conditioning oils in lotions, scrubs, body butters and bath bombs. I should mention that I’m not making lotions like I had in the past. I made lotions before I made soap. Since I switched to using handmade soap, I’ve found I don’t need lotions and creams like I did when I used store bought soap.

Quite a bit already and I haven’t even discussed adding butters to batches. I have to admit I’m not a fan of adding butters but that’s because I prefer them for leave on products. However, other people swear butter makes it better! This is something you’ll have to experiment with and decide for yourself.

If I was going to make a similar recipe to yours, I’d go with one which would make a nice bath bar for everyone in the family. I’d probably use 7% SF.

35% OO
25% CO
25% PO
10% Castor
5% Shea

For a recipe without shea (which might make a good recipe to try for beer soap). :wink:

40% OO
25% CO
25% PO
10% Castor

But again, I must emphasize these are two recipes which I would try but other people might dislike. Not every one thinks castor is necessary in batches; other people are opposed to using palm, etc. Other people can use a much higher coconut percentage without it bothering their skin and so on.

I hope this helps you a little bit. Don’t be shy about asking questions. There is a lot of info on the forum but sometimes it is hard to find. Hopefully, other people will see your post and give their opinion.

 

[Lenimae]

Hazel,

Have I mentioned what an absolute GEM you are!! Thank you SOOO much for being so very generous with your research!! This helps me out a great deal. I've added a lot of your suggestions into my notes (I hope you don't mind!). I'm currently trying to do a bunch of research on making all sorts of bath and body products as well as putting together a HUGE recipe book equipped with hints/tips & notes galore!! While I'm doing this I'm going to go on collecting ingredients and then eventually the experimentation & practice shall finally begin!! I made the mistake of jumping right on in without the researching and learning and ended up creating a sad little cinder block... it wasn't pretty!!! I'm trying so desperately hard to do this right as this is something I feel that I must do...making soap that is! I've wanted to do this for SO very long!!!

Thank you once again... If we lived in the same area I'd be knockin' on your door right about now to attack you with a GINORMOUS HUG, lolol!!! :wink:

 

[Hazel]

Thanks and you're certainly welcome. But what I know isn't very much to what information you can find on the forum. I don't mind you saving my suggestions as long as you remember they are only my suggestions and my opinions.

You sound like I was back when I first got interested in making soap. I researched and read for over 4 years before I made my first batch. I was a bit scared of using lye. Once I made my first batch, I thought "what was I so worried about - that wasn't hard". I also thought my first batch had to be absolutely perfect. That kept me from attempting it, too. Once I let go of the idea of "perfect" soap, I made a small batch with only olive, coconut and shea butter. No color or scent but I was so proud of that batch!

Don't get all stressed out about perfection. From what I've experienced and have seen among other soapers, very few are always happy with their soap. You'll see a lot of comments along the lines of "it didn't turn out the way I wanted" or "it could be better" or "I messed up", etc. There is a learning curve but you may be surprised at how quickly you learn. The main thing is don't let it stress you out so much that you don't enjoy it. :wink: